By Angelina Della Rocco
for the Plainsman
“Plant a seed, read!”
This is the theme that will kick of a fun packed summer at the Huron Public Library.
“As well as gardening, we are focusing on planting seeds of kindness and compassion,” Angela Bailey, Library Director, shared. “It’s a fun theme to have this year.”
With the school year ended, the library is geared up for an active season with many events and activities for all ages.
“The biggest thing is the summer reading program. Everything in June and July is mostly focused around that,” Bailey explained.
“They’ll get a bookmark on which they record their minutes for every two weeks, so four bookmarks for the summer,” she added.
The summer reading program gets started with a party from 5 to 7 p.m. at Campbell Park on Monday, June 1. The party will feature a foam blaster, a bubble station and a hot dog cook out.
“They can pick up their bookmarks that week,” Bailey explained. “Each age group has a different bookmark that we are counting minutes read.”
The program is for all ages and even includes pets this year. Registration for the reading program is currently open. “In the middle of summer, we are going to have a midway celebration for those who have completed one of the bookmarks,” Bailey noted. “They will get a certificate to go to Pop Ice Cream.”
A Secret Garden Escape Room will take place the week of July 6, Monday through Saturday.
Registration will open in June for the escape room and will require a refundable deposit to secure a spot.
A fun opportunity to visit the Freedom 250 truck will take place July 10, 11 and 12, which is an educational exhibition of American history that travels the country.
“The Freedom 250 truck is coming to town, it is a mobile museum out of Virginia,” Bailey stated. “This is to celebrate America 250, it talks about the first 13 colonies and beginning history of the United States.” “This summer we will also have our feed and read program on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.,” she added. “Kids under 18 can come get a bag full of snacks – they do not need to register for that.”
“This year we have partnered with Splash Central,” explained Bailey. “If you have a Library card you can get a day pass for Splash Central once a month throughout the summer.”
Splash Central will host a pop up library during the summer
For the adults at the library this summer, there will be an open mic night, where participants will have five minutes to do anything from spoken poetry to comedy or, of course, singing. In July, there will also be a 500 piece puzzle race.
The importance of having a parent or guardian was also highlighted by Bailey.
“If they are third grade and under, they have to have a parent or guardian with them,” she noted.
“Everything is free if you did your reading,” Bailey smiled. “It is going to be a really fun summer, our summer reading is a great way to meet people. Crafts night for sure is not just about the craft, it is the whole social aspect that people come for.”
The summer reading program ends Saturday, July 25, with an open skating party at the Bergman Arena.
Further details of events are available online at HPL.HuronSD.Gov as well as registration forms.
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